“Hiring autistic people solves many problems. It allows their skills to be utilized and takes a burden off the system,” Steve Andrews By Debra Muzikar Last month, I had the pleasure to interview Steve Andrews, founder of Platinum Bay Technologies. Over a cup of coffee he shared his story and laid ou…

The Art of Autism is taking nominations for informative blogs. Here are our nominations so far for favorite all around blog – magazine style. Vote for Best Female Autistic Blogger here. To vote click on who you want to vote for and hit the vote button at the bottom. Disclaimer: This is an info…

In this strange lull between the Xmas holiday and New Year’s Day, we usually drift in nostalgia and reminisce about the past year’s activities and achievements. And though there have been many wonderful accomplishments this year, we find ourselves looking forward to 2017. We are ready to…

An Irish girl on the autism spectrum has given the world a gift with her version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. Kayleigh Rodgers, a 10-year-old, who gave this knockout performance at Killard House School, a special needs school, in Donaghadee, Northern Ireland. Leonard Cohen died in November.…

The Art of Autism is taking nominations for most informative blogs. Here are our nominations so far for best all around blog – magazine style, To vote click on who you want to vote for and hit the vote button at the bottom. (function(d, s, id){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagNa…

Interviews with Michelle Garcia Winner and Pamela Crooke of Social Thinking® for the upcoming film, A Sound Paradigm By Keri Bowers “Based on how we process the world ~ is how we relate to the world,”  Michelle Garcia Winner Last May during our Art of Autism Hearts & Arts journey up the C…

The Art of Autism looks back at 2016 and prepares for challenges in the future. By Debra Muzikar with Keri Bowers 2016 has shown itself to be a major year for transformation. Within the autism world it has been no different. The Art of Autism has attempted to keep up with the changing dynamics. We p…

In his December 13, 2016 Forbes blog post Michael Bernick, former California labor department director gives a good overview of the employment situation for those on the autism spectrum. At Autistry we have been working on employment for our students for many years and know how difficult it is to fi…

Update 12/12/2016 I’m collecting favorite quotes about autism from some of my favorite people. Please share your own in the comments and if I like it, I may add it to the list. 1. “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism,” Dr. Stephen Sho…

Update 12/10/2016 I’m collecting favorite quotes about autism from some of my favorite people. Please share your own in the comments and if I like it, I may add it to the list. 1. “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism,” Dr. Stephen Sho…

There is a stigma associated with the lack of eye contact in communication. We are seen as rude and/or disinterested. I find it incredibly difficult to make eye contact for a few reasons. I’m hypersensitive to sight, sound, taste and touch which affects my communication greatly as I find it very dis…

By Debra Muzikar I write this blog on the eve of my son Kevin’s 22nd birthday. For typical children there are certain ages that are milestones – age 5 – first day of Kindergarten – age 16 – driver’s license – age 18 – graduation from high school. This is no different for childre…

…young children do not necessarily perceive disability in negative terms. Instead they are curious and welcoming of differences. By Dr. Barbara Gibson, University of Toronto A colleague of mine, Crystal Chin, is a young woman with cerebral palsy who now uses a wheelchair for mobility. Crystal …

By Debra Muzikar As I write this blog, there is a video that has gone viral with a hashtag #StoptheBullying showing images of a ten-year old child (who happens to be Donald Trump’s child Barron) making a case that the child is autistic. This last week Rosie O’Donnell added to the specula…